Fundraisers have risen to a tough Christmas challenge - and doubled the target.

At the beginning of December, the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Can...Cancer Research Appeal set the challenge of collecting £25,000 by Christmas Day.

But the final total was twice the amount with a staggering £50,000 raised.

Bradford Can...Appeal manager Tish Burton said she was "absolutely thrilled" that the target had been smashed so resoundingly.

"The generosity of people in this month of giving has been overwhelming," she said.

"And the number of goodwill messages we have received has also amazed us."

With the appeal currently at £850,000, there's only another £150,000 to raise before the overall £1 million target is met.

When that is done, it will unlock another £5 million funding from Cancer Research UK towards investigations into the potential killer in Bradford.

Throughout December, generous folk across Bradford have been carrying out a variety of fundraising events.

Concerts, balloon races, sponsored walks and even a Bing Crosby doll which escaped from Heaton restaurant Clark's, have all added to the bumper total.

Mrs Burton said they were now looking towards the final few months of the appeal.

"We have done brilliantly well so far, but we now just have to cross the final hurdle.

"Everyone has worked really hard already and I would like to thank them for their dedication.

"But we must keep up the impetus and make sure the £1 million is reached by early 2003."

The money will be used to fund research work at Bradford University which involves developing new drugs to combat cancer. Once a new formula has been found, this can be tested on cancer patients at Bradford Royal Infirmary to see whether it is successful.

That means that a treatment which could help people throughout the world could be discovered here in Bradford.

l If you would like to help the Bradford Can...Appeal, call the appeal office on (01274) 235482.

Pictured celebrating are appeal manager Tish Burton and appeal chairman Lynda Pollard.